You are the prince, I am the maid
Destiny divided these pitiful friends
For the sake of protecting you
I will even become evil.
(Arte's POV)

"Can't catch me, Xer!" A girl of about 5, with long, pale golden hair and clear blue eyes dashed through the royal garden, as fast as she could on her short legs, giggling. She darted speedily between the bushes and trees, the smile never leaving her face.
"Arte! Wait!" A boy of about 7 with short silver hair and wine-red eyes came chasing after her, wearing the same carefree smile. He laughed as he chased her through the garden, dodging flowers and shrubs.
Arte ducked behind a tree trunk, panting. Her red eyes darted about the greenery, searching for her friend. Where did he go? She wondered, bewildered at his seeming total disappearance.
"Gotcha!"
The young girl jumped. Xerxes had sneaked up on her with that annoying stealth of his and grabbed her wrist, a triumphant grin on his face. Arte sighed. This was about the fifteenth time he'd beaten her at this. "Alright, alright." she grumbled. "You win, clown."
Her words produced a teasing smile from him, smug at yet another victory. "I always do~"
Infuriated, Arte lightly smacked him and rolled her eyes when his laughs only increased. Figures. she thought grumpily. But she wasn't truly upset. Though Xerxes was royalty, he never acted like it. He always treated her as an equal. They both agreed that social classes were unfair and overrated, which was a strange opinion for royalty like her friend. And the crown prince at that. Even though everyone expected so much of him, he never let it perturb him and always carried on with that smile she loved so much. That carefree, mischievous, cocky grin of his.

You were born into this world carrying other's expectations
Praised by the church's bells.

"Now that I've reinforced my superiority," Xerxes said smugly, "Let's go back. My parent will be looking for me."
Arte shook her head at him, smiling teasingly. Though his constant mocking and childish antics may have irritated others, she loved them. They were part of him, who he was, and that was something she wouldn't have changed. Not for anything. "Alright then," she stated. "This time, I'll beat you to the door."
She took off, running as fast as she could. Behind her, Xerxes called, "Fat chance!" She heard the pound of footsteps as he started after her.
To her frustration, Xerxes caught her and outdistanced her quickly. He was, after all, two years older, and was also beginning to leave her behind in the height department. Arte pushed with all her might, but her efforts were fruitless. Xerxes beat her to the door. With a groan, Arte ran the rest of the way to the side door they used to get into the palace from the gardens. Now his ego will be inflated even more...
 Not to her surprise, Xerxes was smiling when she reached him. "And I win yet again." he mocked. Arte growled her annoyance, glaring daggers at him. As expected, it had no effect on her friend. The girl crossed her arms and pouted.
"I have something for you." Xerxes said. Arte glanced up, suspicious. What was it? Another of his infamous tricks that he loved playing on her? "Here." Reaching behind his back, Xerxes drew out, to her surprise and delight, a flower crown made of violets, poppies, and marigolds twisted together. "Ojousama (milady)."
Arte smiled. Her friend could be infuriating, but at the same time, he was sweet to make her something like this. After all, she was only the daughter of a healer at the palace. Their friendship was disapproved of by the aristocrats and royalty. They said it wasn't right for the crown prince to spend so much time with a commoner. These whispers had reached the ears of Arte and Xerxes, but they never let it bother them. After all, they were simply friends. When they were together, there was no such thing as commoners, nobility, royalty, or status. It was only them. Arte and Xerxes.
"Here," Xerxes said, "Let me put it on for you." He reached up and gingerly placed the flower crown on Arte's head. She blushed slightly. "It looks really good on you." her friend commented. Arte twisted her hands behind her back. "Thanks." She'd never seen him do this with any of the girls in the aristocracy. His parents had tried several times to get him to bond with them and forget about her. But around those nobles, he acted so stiff and formal. His smiles seemed rigid and forced, his demeanor disinterested and icy. She'd asked him about it once, even. His response was, "Who cares if they're nobility and you're a commoner? I like you for who you are, Arte. Not status or position, or any trash like that." Those words made me really happy. Arte mused.
Xerxes smiled at her. "Come on, let's go back inside." Arte nodded. "Okay."
They entered through the side door, ignoring the maids and servants who gave them scolding looks. Another day of fun and play was passing by. Arte smiled. She looked forward to tomorrow, because Xerxes always managed to surprise her in a different way every day. She followed her friend up the endless staircase until they reached the grand doors leading to his rooms. The splendor always managed to impress Arte. Her own room was average-sized, fitting for someone of her status. She'd bet that her friend's rooms were at least four times larger than her's.
Xerxes pushed open the doors to his rooms, revealing its grand walls, floor, and structure. Arte sighed, feeling envious. It would sure be nice to have a room like this, wouldn't it?
Her attention swiveled back to her friend as he turned to her with a smile. That smile that she loved seeing on him. "See you tomorrow." he said softly, hugging her. Arte hugged him back, her eyes narrowing with affection for her friend.
"Xerxes. Arte."
They froze.
Xerxes regained his bearing first. Releasing Arte, he faced his mother and father. "Mother. Father."
Arte was at loss what to do for a moment longer before she unfroze. She sank into a curtsy like her mother had taught her to do whenever in the presence of nobility or royalty. "Good day, King Oswald, Queen Charlotte."
King Oswald was a handsome man in his late twenties, with coal-black hair and deep violet eyes. Arte had found out long ago that she could never look at him in the eye without feeling cowed. Unable to make herself look up, she stared at her feet.
Queen Charlotte was renowned for her exceptional beauty. She had silky pink hair that reached the middle of her back, flawless alabaster skin, long, thick lashes, and pale red eyes that Arte assumed she'd passed on to her son, though his were slightly darker.
The king and queen observed them intently, making Arte feel like a deer about to be skinned. She shuddered slightly. Finally, Xerxes asked, "Is there something we can help you with, Mother, Father?" Swallowing nervously, Arte kept her eyes on the richly decorated floor.
King Oswald spoke. "As a matter of fact, there is. Xerxes, you have been told several times that having such close ties with a commoner is not proper, especially for the crown prince of Pandora." At his words, Arte winced. The disdainful way the king said the word commoner made her feel low and inferior.
"She's my friend, Father." Xerxes said.
"Exactly. You consider this commoner a friend." Queen Charlotte replied sharply. Arte dared to look up and noticed that there were four soldiers behind the king and queen. Alarm bells started to ring in her head. Of course the king and queen had two guards following them in order to protect them from harm, but four? Xerxes must have noticed as well. She caught a flash of concern in his eyes, though he hid it well.
"Yes, I do." Xerxes retorted, and Arte stared at him, shocked and slightly worried. She'd never heard her friend snap back at his parents like that. She'd always thought they had a good relationship. But there was anger in Xerxes's eyes. Arte gulped. King Oswald narrowed his eyes. "Xerxes. This is all the more reason why that commoner is a bad influence on you. She is even leading you to disrespect your own parents. You are the crown prince of Pandora. It is time that you start taking that role seriously, and it starts with distancing yourself from her."
Xerxes lifted his chin, much to Arte's growing nervousness. Of course, she was immensely grateful to her friend for standing up for her, but...she didn't want him to get in trouble on her account.
"I will not." Xerxes declared.
Arte froze.
King Oswald's gaze turned frigid.
Queen Charlotte's beautiful face turned stern.
The guards alone did not show a reaction to the bold statement from their prince.
"Xerxes." Queen Charlotte said firmly. "Leave her. There are several girls in the aristocracy who wish to become good friends with you. It would benefit us if you got to know them. As your father has said, you are the crown prince of Pandora. You will one day lead this country with a wife at your side to advise and love you. Love begins with friendship."
Arte was aghast. Was the queen implying that Xerxes might fall in love with her? Just because they were good friends, he'd love her in the future? The very thought was shocking. Xerxes always acted so carefree and just himself with her. He did not at all seem lovestruck or demure in the way she'd read from her romance tales. The idea of him falling in love with her was inconceivable. Not because it sounded bad - not at all. Arte just thought she had no chance. There were several beautiful girls in the aristocracy that she couldn't compete with. In addition, Arte was sure that Xerxes's parents would never approve of a relationship between them.
"Love?" Xerxes asked. "Mother, Arte is just a friend."
Queen Charlotte regarded him. "As I said. She is just a friend for now, but friendship foreshadows love. And neither me nor your father will have you falling in love with a mere palace servant. She is here to serve you, to obey you. Not to become close to you." At these words, Arte saw an angry light flicker to life in her friend's eyes. She put a hand on his arm in an attempt to restrain him, but she was too late.
"Don't you dare talk about Arte like you know her!" Xerxes shouted. Arte flinched, horrified. She'd never seen her friend so angry. But he was. He was furious...furious that his parents had mistreated her. Her, just a common girl, the daughter of an insignificant healer at the palace. She dared to glance at the king and queen, and instantly regretted it upon seeing the hidden anger in King Oswald's eyes and the disdain with which Queen Charlotte looked at her. Swallowing, Arte averted her gaze again.
The king narrowed his violet eyes at the two of them. "If you refuse to listen, Xerxes, then we will have no choice but to separate you two."
His words washed over Arte like icy water. Separate them? No...Surely that couldn't mean what she thought it meant. She snuck a look at Xerxes and saw the same confusion and alarm.
King Oswald nodded at the guards.
The guards bowed to their king and advanced. Arte's eyes widened. Xerxes blanched and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. "No." he said. "No, she's not leaving me! I won't let her!"
The soldiers did not respond. Xerxes drew himself up. "Stay back."
"I apologize, Your Highness," One of the guards said in a monotone voice. "But His Majesty's orders precede yours."
"I don't care about that." Xerxes said sharply. Dangerously. "You will step back."
The guards did no such thing. Arte glanced at Xerxes, tightening her hand around his.
The guard in the lead grabbed her.
Arte let out a shriek of surprise and horror.
"Arte!" Xerxes tried to pull her from the guard's grasp, but for once, had as little luck as her. He was only a boy of seven - what could he do against a grown, trained soldier? It was hopeless. All hopeless. Still, Arte struggled and fought, screamed and kicked. No. No. No. No. She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay with Xerxes. As they wrestled and tussled, the flower crown Xerxes had given her was knocked off Arte's head and flew into his room, where it lay on the carpet. No one noticed it. Not Arte, Not Xerxes. Not King Oswald, nor Queen Charlotte.
Their hands were ripped from each others'. "No!" Arte cried.
"Arte!" Xerxes's frantic voice reached her ears. Opening the eyes that she hadn't realized she'd clenched closed, they met her friend's. For a moment, Arte froze with shock.
Was he...was Xerxes crying? He never cried. And yet, his wine-red eyes were misty as they bored into hers. The intensity in them stunned Arte. Was he...was he really that sad to see her go? She was a mere commoner, while he...he was the crown prince of Pandora. How could he care so much about someone so lowborn, so wretched, as her?
And yet, as she was dragged away, those tears in his eyes did not vanish.
In fact, they only increased.

But due to selfish adults' circumstances
Our future was torn in two.